New
New
Year 3

Fabric decorative techniques

I can select finishing techniques to improve my textile product.

New
New
Year 3

Fabric decorative techniques

I can select finishing techniques to improve my textile product.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Embroidery stitches such as cross-stitch add decoration.
  2. Appliqué is a decorative technique which can be achieved by gluing or stitching.
  3. Fasteners should be applied using the correct technique.

Keywords

  • Apply - put something onto something else

  • Appliqué - gluing or sewing fabric shapes or designs onto another fabric

  • Embroidery - making pictures or patterns using stitches

  • Decorative - details added just for how they look

Common misconception

Sewing is only used to join fabric pieces.

Sewing can be used to finish raw (cut) edges or add decorative detail to single layer fabric pieces.


To help you plan your year 3 design and technology lesson on: Fabric decorative techniques, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It may be easier for pupils to glue appliqué designs on to their products. Cross-stitch or embroidery designs can be done on separtate fabric pieces and glued on to the final product.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Please see additional materials document for a list of resources needed for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Fabric products are made by joining __________.
paper pieces
Correct answer: pattern pieces
cotton fabric
loose threads
Q2.
Match the fasteners.
Correct Answer:zip,interlocking teeth

interlocking teeth

Correct Answer:hook and loop,has a fluffy side

has a fluffy side

Correct Answer:snap button,applied with pliers

applied with pliers

Correct Answer:button,can be made from shells

can be made from shells

Q3.
Which type of fastener would be the the safest and easiest for a young child to open and close?
zip
button
Correct answer: hook and loop
snap button
Q4.
What is a visible seam?
stitches that can't be seen
Correct answer: stitches that can be seen
large stitches
a running stitch
Q5.
What has created this problem?
An image in a quiz
stationery is too small
wrong thread
Correct answer: large, uneven stitches
wrong fastener
Q6.
Why would you sew pattern pieces back to front (the wrong way round)?
Correct answer: to make an invisible seam
to hide the pattern
to make them fit
to make it easier to sew

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is NOT a fastener commonly used on stationery storage products?
zip
Correct answer: laces
button
hook and loop
Q2.
Which type of fastener is this tool used to apply?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: snap buttons
hook and loop
zips
buttons
Q3.
What is appliqué?
decorative stitching
Correct answer: fabric shapes or designs
a fastener
a product
Q4.
Which of these images shows an embroidery technique?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Additional material

Download additional material